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‘You always find something different’: Sir Elton John on his love of photography

Sir Elton and David Furnish talk with Christie's Head of Photographs Darius Himes about the artists they love, including works in the 6 April auction in New York to benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation

Commemorating the foundation’s 25th year, this special auction holds great personal significance for the Oscar and Grammy Award-winning star. ‘It’s my 70th birthday, and the 50th anniversary of my songwriting partnership with Bernie Taupin,’ he explains.

Artists and estates that have donated to the auction include Henri Cartier-Bresson, Richard Misrach and Cindy Sherman. ‘They’ve been amazingly generous,’ Sir Elton continues, acknowledging the consistent support his foundation has received from the creative industries.

Filmed in his LA home, this interview offers a glimpse of some of the works in Sir Elton’s own collection, which is hailed as one of the greatest private collections in the world. He reveals it has been largely acquired while on tour and from galleries across the world. ‘You always find something different; that’s what I love about photography,’ he says. The exhibition Radical Eye: Modernist Photography from the Sir Elton John Collection is on show at Tate Modern in London until 21 May.

Championing new artists is also important to the singer and songwriter. ‘You could walk into someone’s first show and buy something you love for $1,500 and it can mean just as much to you as something you’d pay $100,000 for,’ he says.

Herb Ritts’s inclusion in the sale is particularly fitting. ‘Great artists, including Mapplethorpe and Herb, were lost to AIDS,’ says Sir Elton. ‘They died so young, and their loss was so tragic. Herb’s work means he’s still supporting our work even though he’s not with us.’ David Furnish — EJAF’s Chairman — adds: ‘You can’t work in photography and not be touched by someone who was affected by HIV/AIDS.’

‘I’m very excited about the pieces,’ Sir Elton concludes. ‘It’s an amazing array of photographers and great work. There’s not one bad photograph in there at all — [they’re] things that if I didn’t already have, I’d buy.’